Cephalanthus plant named ‘SMCBM’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Cephalanthus plant named ‘SMCBM’, characterized by its upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy habit; glossy green-colored leaves becoming dark red in the autumn; spherical head-type inflorescences with numerous white-colored flowers; attractive medium red-colored fruits; and good garden performance and winter hardiness.

Botanical designation: Cephalanthus occidentalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SMCBM’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from theInventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assigneeclaim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosureand/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior tothe effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Cephalanthus plant,botanically known as Cephalanthus occidentalis and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘SMCBM’.

The new Cephalanthus plant is a product of a controlled breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Grand Haven, Mich. The objective of thebreeding program is to create freely branching and freely floweringCephalanthus plants with attractive summer and autumn leaf color,numerous attractive fruits and winter hardiness.

The new Cephalanthus plant originated from an open-pollination duringthe summer of 2010 in Grand Haven, Mich. of Cephalanthus occidentalis‘Sugar Shack’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with anunknown selection of Cephalanthus occidentalis as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Cephalanthus plant was discovered and selected by theInventor during the summer of 2015 as a single flowering plant withinthe progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environmentin Grand Haven, Mich.

Asexual reproduction of the new Cephalanthus plant by softwood cuttingsin a controlled environment in Grand Haven, Mich. since the summer of2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Cephalanthus plantare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations ofasexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Cephalanthus have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘SMCBM’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘SMCBM’ as a new and distinct Cephalanthusplant:

-   -   1. Upright and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy habit.    -   4. Glossy green-colored leaves becoming dark red in the autumn.    -   5. Spherical head-type inflorescences with numerous        white-colored flowers.    -   6. Attractive medium red-colored fruits.    -   7. Good garden performance and winter hardiness.

Plants of the new Cephalanthus can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, ‘Sugar Shack’. Plants of the new Cephalanthus differ from plantsof ‘Sugar Shack’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Cephalanthus are larger than and not as        dwarf as plants of ‘Sugar Shack’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Cephalanthus are lighter green in        color than leaves of plants of ‘Sugar Shack’.    -   3. Plants of the new Cephalanthus and ‘Sugar Shack’ differ in        fruit color as plants of the new Cephalanthus produce lighter        red-colored fruits than plants of ‘Sugar Shack’.

Plants of the new Cephalanthus can be compared to plants of theCephalanthus occidentalis ‘Magical Moonlight’, not patented. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Cephalanthus differ fromplants of ‘Magical Moonlight’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Cephalanthus are more upright than and not        as mounding as plants of ‘Magical Moonlight’.    -   2. In the autumn, leaves of plants of the new Cephalanthus        become dark red in color whereas leaves of plants of ‘Magical        Moonlight’ do not develop autumn color.    -   3. Plants of the new Cephalanthus and ‘Magical Moonlight’        differed in fruit color as plants of the new Cephalanthus        produce medium red-colored fruits whereas plants of ‘Magical        Moonlight’ produce yellow green-colored fruits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Cephalanthus plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Cephalanthus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view ofa typical flowering plant of ‘SMCBM’.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view oftypical developing and developed inflorescences and leaves of ‘SMCBM’.

The photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 3) is a side perspective view ofa typical plant of ‘SMCBM’ with mature fruits.

The photograph on the fourth sheet (FIG. 4) is a close-up view oftypical developed fruits and leaves of ‘SMCBM’.

Plants used for the photographs were grown during the mid to late summerin ground beds in an outdoor nursery in Grand Haven, Mich. and undercultural practices typical of commercial production. Plants were aboutfour years old when the photographs were taken.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and values describe plantsgrown during the summer and autumn in three-gallon containers in apolyethylene-covered greenhouse in Grand Haven, Mich. and under culturalpractices typical of commercial production. During the production of theplants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 27° C. and nighttemperatures ranged from 5° C. to 10° C. Plants were about three yearsold when the description was taken. In the description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Cephalanthus occidentalis ‘SMCBM’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Cephalanthus occidentalis ‘Sugar            Shack’, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Cephalanthus            occidentalis, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By softwood cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one month at            temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 27° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About eight            months at temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 27° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness; fibrous; typically            white to brown in color, actual color of the roots is            dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizer, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; upright and mounded            plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate            growth rate.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about nine            primary lateral branches developing per plant.        -   Plant height.—About 57 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 53 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 30 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 5 cm.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Aspect.—Erect to about 45° from vertical.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 144D becoming closer to 180B.        -   Color, fully developed.—Close to 201D.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 11 cm.        -   Width.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Slightly rough with            sparse pubescent along veins; slightly glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 138A; in            the autumn, close to N144A to N144C. Developing leaves,            lower surface: Close to 138A; in the autumn, close to 151A.            Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 138A;            venation, close to 151A; in the autumn, close to 183B and            187A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A;            venation, close to 145D; in the autumn, close to 151D and            183C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent.            Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower appearance and arrangement.—Single sessile tubular            flowers arranged on dense terminal head-type inflorescences;            heads spherical in shape; freely flowering habit with more            than 100 flowers per inflorescence and more than 10,000            flowers developing per plant during the flowering season;            flowers face all directions depending on position on the            head.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower during the summer in            Michigan; flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Slightly fragrant; sweet and earthy.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 4 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3 mm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 1.5 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Shape: Ovate. Color: Tube, close to NN155B; at the apex,            close to 167B.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Four petals fused in a            single fine tubular whorl. Length: About 1 mm. Width: About            1 mm. Shape: Oval. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When            opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155A. Fully            opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155A; color            becoming closer to 180A with development.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: If present, about four or            five in a single whorl. Length: About 0.5 mm. Width: About            0.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About            1.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to about 45° from            the stem axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to            144B variably tinged with close to 168B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower: About            four. Filament length: About 5 mm. Filament color: Close to            NN155D. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Globular.            Anther color: Close to 200A. Amount of pollen: Abundant.            Pollen color: Close to 8A. Gynoecium: Quantity per flower:            One. Pistil length: About 1.5 cm. Style length: About            1.5 cm. Style color: Close to NN155D. Stigma appearance:            Globular. Stigma color: Close to 200D.        -   Fruits.—Height: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 cm. Shape:            Hard, spherical. Color: Close to 179A.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Cephalanthus have been    observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind    and temperatures ranging from about −32° C. to about 36° C.-   Pathogen & pest tolerance: To date, plants of the new Cephalanthus    have not been observed to be tolerant to pathogens and pests common    to Cephalanthus plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Cephalanthus plant named ‘SMCBM’ asillustrated and described.